Mzee Kutta, Khayelitsha Business Forum chairperson
The Khayelitsha Business Forum welcomes the commendable job undertaken by the South African Police Service (SAPS) under the stewardship of Provincial Commissioner, Thembisile Patekile.
The firm stance adopted by police against crime brings back hope to the residents of Khayelitsha and surrounding areas, as well as the traumatised and energetic emerging entrepreneurs of the place at large.
We have learnt with great shock about this incident where it’s alleged gangs brazenly shot at on-duty police officers when they came to investigate what seemed like a heist at its planning stage.
The live ammunition engagement ensued while police were doing raids in the area.
As the Khayelitsha Business Forum fraternity, we embrace less violent strategies to combat crime, however, we encourage zero tolerance against criminals who are in possession dangerous weapons that may be used to intimidate and kill innocent people.
While we deeply sympathises with families who lost their loved ones, we are grateful that there is no police man or woman that lost theirs in the process of fighting crime at this instance. Additionally with that spirit in mind we would like sound the call to all agents of change to join hands in ensuring a crime-free society.
As the business community of Khayelitsha we recognise the impact of crime and its consequences to our businesses and we are committed to working together with civil society as the stakeholder to turn things around.
As the Khayelitsha Business Forum we reaffirm our conviction that crime harms businesses and the community at large. Therefore, any improvement in policing in our communities is a necessary ingredient for successful business.
